Help me choose a new name for on-line bookstore!
 

As some of you know, I operate an on-line bookstore part time called veryfinebooks.com .
I'm starting to hate this name for several reasons.

It's too long for a dot com, it's too generic sounding, and it breaks several immutable laws of branding!
I've also received a "cease and desist" notification from the Kraft cheese people. "Veryfine" juice anyone?
:eek:

so all you marketing wizards, any good ideas for a brand new name? Most of our book are signed high end collectibles, from Easton Press with a large Stephen King section.

I've been toying around with the word "epigraphy" lately, which means " the study of inscriptions", trying to create a new word, like "epigrafis" or "epigraf".

Any and all ideas very welcome. a new name is in our future but for now it's a struggle to come up with one.

Thank you.

thestudy.net

consummate.?

consummatescholar.?

bibliography.?

bibliophile.?

bibliotech.?

sometimepoet.?

uncommonlibrary.?

tobeornottobe.com

postulate.?

ledgerdomain
The Bookworm
The Good Book
speakingvolumes
epic register
epicproportions
permanent record
publicate
A fine index
Scriptures
SubScript
wordup! :)
Book'em!
Subliminal Messages
Illuminary

Let us know what you go with.

Scott

Re: Help me choose a new name for on-line bookstore!
 

Talk to an attorney, but I can almost guarantee you that Kraft has absolutely no legal ground to stop you from using "veryfinebooks" so I wouldn't be holding that as a reason to change names. They can only claim and enforce a trademark within their product category, juice and books have no connection. In order to maintain their trademark they have to demonstrate that they actively protect it -- if they don't, then it could become part of the public domain. They probably sent you the letter as a matter of routine to help keep an "arsenal" to show that they actively protect the name in case their trademark is challenged. They probably know they have no legal ground to stop you from using the name.

I think your current name is fine. It's easy to remember; I can remember it after only one read. It's only thirteen letters (that's not long) and communicates a good deal about your business. I don't know what "several immutable laws of branding" you think you are breaking with it; can you explain what you mean by that comment? If, as you say, most of your books are "signed high end collectibles" I think the name fits very well.

Additionally, if you change the name of an established business, you run some risk of confusing and losing customers. If your sales are fine, I wouldn't mess with the name.

A few more. This is fun :)

Superscripture
PaperLions
articles of Incorporation
Medium-Rare
CoverLetters
DogEars
TomesOfEndearment


Scott

onrampbooks
finebooks
onrampfinebooks

booksexclusive
readersfinest
readersselect
bookselect

Duh, I no good at this.. :rolleyes:

Good luck !

How about "lol-dork-books.com"?

Just ribbing ya. :D

Actually I like your epigraf.com. Unique, short, and memorable.

From what I've read about marketing, start with the insight, not the idea. What makes your business different, or distinguishes it from others? Use that as inspiration and the ideas will come from that.

Scott

wormfood.com
booknook.com
betterthanamazon.com :D

I like Scott's ideas...Book'em! and also "DogEared"

Catchy and clever!

Lisa :)

the MUSTY OLD BOOK

NAW that sucks

Caveat Lector

[url]www.Page-Turner.com

when you think of branding, you think of a proper noun used effectively associate with something else. Like "Xerox", "Macy's", "Staples", "Volvo", "Subway".

These are all made up proper nouns that stand for something in the consumers mind. ie. "Volvo" for safety, "Staples", for office superstore.

veryfinebooks is just too long, has an adjective and an adverb in there(?). i dont like it.
I need something different, a proper noun that people can associate with Very Fine Books!....similar to when you think of "Rolex", you think of quality watches, or "Miller", good beer!, "Volvo" reliable safe cars....

the name also breaks the "law of the generic". the name itself sounds generic, like "fine books" or if you names your beer company "very good beer", same to naming your tire company "High Perfomance Tires". of your sub shop, "Best Tasting Subs"..instead of "Subway".

am I making any sense?

Ramp's Books

Here is an article in Fortune that discusses branding.

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/articles/0,15114,1119285,00.html

Scott

Pages
Bindings
Sellbound
Cover2Cover

No, you are not making sense. You are retailing existing products, not building a brand name for any new product. Your comparisons should be of retailers, not product brands.

Additionally, you are running a small business in a niche market, so comparing your name to those used by larger companies marketing and selling into a larger market is not a good comparison. I doubt you are going to reach the size of an amazon.com or other mass retailer where branding is important to send a message to the consumer in the crowded marketplace.

In short, a brand name is not that important unless you are heavily involved in a mass-marketed product field. When the consumer has "lots of choices" a brand name helps an individual product (or retailer) stand-out from the crowd. When you are in a niche market, the consumer doesn't necessarily need any strong brand name to identify you -- he just needs a name he can remember so he can find you when he needs you.

I think rather than trying to change or "fine tune" your company name, you'll do a lot better to stay focused on providing what your customers want. If you have the autographed book they want you'll make the sale; if you don't have what they want, no matter how "powerful" of a brand name you might have, they won't be shopping with you.

Understand the nature of niche marketing; it's all about meeting the specific needs of the customer that the big "brand-name" players don't. Pelican Parts doesn't exist because of its name, it is here because Wayne sells what one can't get at AutoZone or Advance Auto.

You appear to offer what one can't get at an Amazon.com, a Books a Million, or a Barnes and Noble. Keep doing what works and don't worry about things like the "generic" nature of the name.

Besides, if Kraft thinks "Veryfine" is good enough for a brand of juice, why do you think it's not good in marketing your books?

Pelican Books - we would all remember that

Readers Only

Page Entertainment

Rocket Books - sounds powerful

Mystery to me

Talisman Books - reference to King novel

Cujo Book - another reference to King

Kraft Books - just kidding

Cheese Wiz Books - just kidding again